Machine for molding candles.



873,073. PATENTED DBO. 10, 1907.

0. NORDPORS.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CANDLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 873,073. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907,. 0. NORDPORS.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CANDLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1907.

a SHEETS-sum 2.

PATENTED DEG.10, 1907.

0. NORDPORS.

MAGHINE FOR MOLDING CANDLES.

APPLICATEON FILED MAY 2, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 can re,

CONRAD NORDFORS, OF JERSEY O ITY, NEW JERSEY.

'Maomma son Momma CANDLES.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CONRAD NORDFORS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, Hudson county, State ofNew Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for'Molding Candles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for casting candles by means of a suitable number of divided molds, each composed of a air of movable sections. When the mol is closed, it is automatically charged with a measured quantity of the candle. material, 'which is chilled within the mold so as to set rapidly. The mold is then opened by causing its two sections to recede simultaneously in opposite directions, whereby a central clearance for the unobstructed discharge 'of the candle is established. This discharge is effected by a perforated ejector which embraces the wick and pushes the candledown throu h the mold, at the same time reeling off a length of wick sufficient for the next candle. This wick is cut off above the molded candle, so that the latter will drop upon a conveyer that carries it to ahoppen, Plungers traversing the hopper deliver t 'e candies to a knife that trims the butt, thus completing the operation. All the parts operate automatically, and means are provided for lengthenin and shortening the periods during which t e candles set within the molds, so I that the machine may be readily adapted to work upon different materials and turn out candles of various dimensions.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of my improved machine for molding candles; Fig. 2 a ri ht hand end elevation thereof, with some of t e parts omitted; Fig. 3 a detail vertical section. through one of the molds and pockets; Fig. 4 a similar section showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 5 a side view of one of the mold-blocks; Fig. 6 a plan of a pair of co-acting moldblocks, on a reduced scale, and Fig. 7 a detail of the butt trimmer.

The frame 10 of the machine supports a suitable number of candle molds or moldblocks, each of which is composed of two movable sections 11 and 12. Of these, all sections 11 are movablelaterally in one direction, while sections 12 are. simultaneously movable in the opposite direction, so that the mold is opened when its sections recede from each other, and is closed when such sections ap- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 2. 1907. Serial No. 371.424.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

cast candle will be the mold when the latter is opened, and may thus be discharged proach each other.- The advantage of making the mold in two movable seotions, is, that the. freed from both halves of along the axis of the mold:

without contacting with either of the mold- 1 sections.

- The mold-sections'1'1, 12, are hollow'and:

provided with aseries of vertical casting recesses 13, each corresponding in. size to o'ne half of the candle, the recesses of'one section I being alined with those of the other section.

The hollow body of each mold-section forms a acket 14 for. the consecutive admission of a heating and a chilling medium. During" a their movement,

- the mold-sections are guided by flanged rails 15 of frame 10, (Fig; 5), and are reoiprocated in the following" manner: A rotating shaft 16 carries at one end a cam 17, and on the other end a'cam 18.

Cam 17 is operative-1y engaged by a lever 19 which, in turn, by a link 20, is connected to a draw-bar 21 to which all the, right hand mold-sections 12 are attached. In likemanner cam 18 is engagedby a lever 22 connected by link 23 to a'draw-bar 24 to which all i the left hand mold sections 11 are attached.

Cams 1? and 18 are substantial'duplicates of each other,

inward. movement molds connected to said bars is pertank 25 provided below its bottom 26 with a heating chamber 27, adapted for the reception of steam or other heatlng medium.

In axial alinement with tends through'chamber 27 a tubular measuring pocket 28 of asize to accommodate the material necessary for castin a single candle. Within pocket 28 is free to p aythecommon tubular stem 29 of a pair of perforated valves 30, 31, mounted on opposite ends thereof, the length of the stern being such that when one of the valves is closed, the other valve is o en. Upper valve 30 has a conical seat 32 w iich is perforated to establish communication between tank 25 and pocket '28. 0 this upper valve 33 projecting through tank 25 and inclosing wick 34, received from reel-35. aLower valve 31 has a tapering seat inn when lifted, permits the escape of -the'liquid charge of pocket 28 into the mold.

each mold there exso that each complete rotation of shaft 16 will cause an alternate outward and of bars-'2], 24, whereby the desired successivev opening and closing of 30 is attached a wick tube The means for operatingvalves 30. 31, and

the molds, in manner hereinafter described, are as follows: Fast on shaft 16 is a cam 37 which, by lever38 and link 39, reciprocates a vertically movable frame 40 guided along rails 41. From each side of frame 40 extend upwards a series of supports 42 connected at t an upper ends by a series of parallel transverse bars 43, one of said bars being arranged below each transverse line of pockets 28.

Bars 43 are provided centrally above each mold with a depending lunger 44 having a socketed bottom 45, ant an upright erforation adapted to embrace wiclr34. The upper side of rod 43 constitutes a valve lifter adapted t'oiactuate stem 29 by en agement with a perforated nipple 46' depeni ing from the latter. When frame 40 is raised, bar 43 will open valve 31 and close valve 30, while plun er 44 will form the top of the'mold, which simultaneously c-los'es against the same, (Fig. 3)I When frame 40 is lowered, valve 31 will close and valve 30 will open by gravity, whileplunger 44 will carry the set candle axially downward through the mold which is now open, and reel oil' a length of wick sufficient for the next candle, (Fig. 4). In this way plun er 44 constitutes an ejector for discharging the set candle from the mold along the central line thereof and in such a way, that the candle clears both mold-sections. After the candle has thus been lowered beneath the mold, frame 40 is again r o posite en raised into the. position-shown in Fig. 3, while candle 47 will remain suspended from wick 34. Each mold-section 11 carries at its bottom a cutter 48, which, upon the closing of the mold will sever the wick above the candle and cause the latter to drop 11 on a conveyer 49, of-a construction herein elow described.

Means are provided for automatically admitting a heating medium into-the jackets 14 ofmold-sections'll, 12, when' the latter are.

0 ened, and for admitting a coolingmedium t ere'to when the molds are closed. In this way the molds are-preheated to insure an even flow, of material and a smooth surface of the cast, while the subsequent c'hillin serves to accelerate the setting of the candfie v The heating medium such as hot water or steam may be drawn from chamber. 27 and flows through pipe 50into the' upper endof a valve-casing 51-, the lower end of which receives a suitable cooling medium from pipe 52. Within casing 51 plays the common stem 55 of a air'of valves 53, 54, mounted on dis thereof,- and of such a len th t at whenone valve is closed, the other va ve is open. Stem 55 receives. intermittent reciprocating movement'from lever 19 by link 56, said lever also contrdllingi the movement "of the molds, as hereinabove escribed. The central chamber of casing 51 connects with a pipe 57, which, by a series of flexible tubes 58 communicates with jackets 14 of mold-sections 11, 1:2. Thespent heating or cooling medium is discharged from the latter through a suitable outlet 59. the-.molds, lever 19 will, by link 56 draw stem 55 down to open valve 53 and thereby cause the heating medium to flow into the molds opened, so that the cooling medium will flow into the molds where it acts upon the cast until the molds are again opened.

Means are provided for imparting to shaft 16 intermittent rotary motion and for ad 80 justing the intervals of rest between the periods of motion. This adjustment has for its object to control the time during which the molds remain closed and during which the cast is exposed to the action of the chill- 85 ing medium. Thus, the machine may be adapted to operate u on different materials and to mold candles 0 various dimensions.

As shown, power-shaft 60 has a worm 61 engaging worm-wheel62, which, by clutch 90 i 63, is adapted to be intermittently coupled to shaft 16. The movement of clutch 63 is such that shaft 16 is arrested for a predeter mined time .upon each complete rotation. The length of this time may be adjusted by a suitable electric controller 64, that may have a clock-work adapted to close an electric circuit at predetermined intervals. ,Oontroller 64 is in circuit with an electroma'gnet 65 which is operatively connected to the clutch in suitable manner; r Conveyor 49 consists of a series of-spaced." parallel endless bands engaging rollers.66, 67, of which roller 67 is driven from shaft 60 by wheels 68, 69. The upper runs of bands 49 10 are accommodatedby grooves formed between the upwardly projecting ridges of; a corrugated guide 70. Thus, as the candles drop upon bands 49, they will be properly positioned by guide 70 and carried in parallel ines towards a hopper 71, within which the candles accumulate. Directly above its bot tom, hopper 71 is traversed by a suitable number ofplungers 72 adapted to push the During the opening of 79 During the closing of the latter, valve 53 will be closed and valve 54 will'be front and rearopenings, as will be readily u1 1, 12kg;

derstood.

The means for reciprocating plunger 72 i and for operatim kni e 74, are as follows: Wheel 66., by a chain 75, drives a wheel 76,

crank-disk 79, which, by rod 80, lever 81,

'rock-shaft S2 and forked lever 83, reciprocates a slide 34 to which pl ungers 72 are which, by coupling 77, is adapted'to engage shaft 78. Upon the latter is mounted a to provide means for delaying the action of the plungers until a suitable numberof can- 'dles have accumulated in hopper 71.

' 78 is intergeared by wheels 85 with shaft 86.

carrying crank-disk 87. The latter is by rod .88 connected-to a bell-crank 89 turning on fulcrum 90. Bell-crank-i89 1S at 91.pivoted to one end of the cutter-head 92 of knife 7 4,?

the other end of said head being connected "to a fixed support by a link 93.

It will be seen that by the rotation of crank-disk 87, a shearing action will beim :parted to knife 74, so that a clean cut is i insured. During the cuttingoperation, the: added presser-foot 94 which is caused to candles are held to table '73 by a escendupon the candles while head 92 swings downward. To operate presser-foot 94, head 92 has a projection 95, which, by pin 96, engages a slotted slide 97. This slide moves along-rods 98 to which presser-foot 94 is attached. Rods 98 are surrounded by coiled springs 99 bearing with their upper ends" against slide 97, while their lower ends engage collars 100 fast on rods 98. Upon the descent of head 92, slide 97 will be lowered to yieldingly lower presser-foot 94-by springs 99,

' manner upon a conveyer 102.

1 place desired.

. the latter receding simultaneously in 0 posite the chilling periods "may be re ulate while, when head 92 ascends, it will carry slide 97 and Presser-foot 94 with it.

From table 73, the trimmed candles are J pushed by the succeeding candles upon a table 101 from which they are pushed in like The latter rei ceives motion from shaft 78in suitable manner and delivers the finished candles to the The operation of the machine will be understood from the foregoing description.

' The candles are discharged from the molds by the ejectors in such a manner that they will clear both halves :of the mold-sections,

directions to permit an unobstructed escent of the candles. In this way a perfect product is insured, all scratching or other injury by abrasion or contact with the mold being pre vented. The machine further insures an.

automatic charging of the molds' with ameasured quantity of the candle material, an

automatic alternate heating and cooling. of the mold-sections, and a positive discharge of the molded candle. So also the len th 05 an will be automatically maintaine after being regulated. -Finally, the cast candles are trimmed"automatically, and in such a way Shaft a divided mold, means for simultaneously moving the mold-sections in opposite directions, and means for placing a wickinto the mold, substantially as specified.- 1 -3. In a machine of the character described,

"a divided mold, means for automatically sliding the mold sections inopposite directions, and a cutter attached to one of said mold-sections substantially as specified.

4. In a machineof the character described, a pair of hollow blocks having a seriesof alined casting recesses, means for-placing wicks intosaid recesses and means for sliding said blocks alternately in opposite directions substantially as specified.

5. In a machine of the character described, a series of divided molds, means for lacing wicks into said molds, a pair of r0 s connected to alternate mold-sections, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said rods in opposite directions,'substantially as specified.

6. In amachine of the character described,

af'd'iVide'd hollow mold, means for opening and closing said mold, valves for alternately conveying a heating and cooling medium to the mold, and valve-actuating means controlled'by the mold-opening and closingmeans, substantially as specified.

7. In a machine of the character described, a mold, a pocket above the same, automatic means for establishing communication be-- tween said pocket and said mold and means for drawing awick through the pocket and mold, substantially as specified.

8. In a machine of the character described, a tank, a pocket, a mold, means for establishing. communication between the tank and pocket, means for establishing communication between the pocket and mold and means for drawing a wick through the pocket and mold, substantially as specified. f

9. r In a machine of the character described,

a tank, a pocket, a mold, means for establishing communication between" the tank and pocket, means for establishing communication between the pocket and mold, means for opening the first-named means upon the closing of the second-named means and means 10. In a machine 0 the character described, a tank, a peeket a mold below the for drawing a wick through the pocket and mold, substantially ass ecified.

pocket, an upper and a lower opening in the pocket, a stem within the pocket, and an upper and a lower valve carried by the stem, substantially as specified.

11. In a machine of the character described, a tank, a heating chamber below the tank, a valve-controlled pocket embraced by the heating chamber and communicating with the tank, a mold below the pocket and means for drawing a wick through the pocket I and mold, substantially as specified.

.12. In a machine of the character deii I scribed, a tank, a'heating chamber below the chamber, a mold below the pocket, means for establishin communication between the tank and t e pocket, means for establishing comnmnication between the pocket and the mold and meansfor drawing a wick through lfzihe pocket and mold, substantially as specied. i v v I a i I 13. In. a machine of the character (lee scribed, a tank, a divided mold, means for opening and closing the mold, automatic means for establishing communication ,be tween the tank and the mold when the mold scribed, a tank, a mold'beneath the tank, a

erforated valve controlling communication lietween tank and mold, and a wick tube projecting upwardly. from said valve, substantially as specified. V

16. In a machine of the character described, a tank having an outlet, a valve con-.

trolling said outlet, a mold beneath the outlet, a valve-lifter, and an ejector depending from the lifter and adapted to engage the mold, substantially as s ecified. f=

17 In a machine o the character described, a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, a mold beneath the outlet, a valve-lifter, and a perforated and socketed ejector depending from the lifter and adapted to engage the mold, substantially as specified. I

18. In a machineof the character described, a divided mold, means for opening and closing the mold, means for placing a wick therein, a perforated ejector surround-- ing the wick, and means for. lowering saidejector when the mold is open, substantially as specified.

19. In a machine of the character described, a mold, a charging valve abovethe C I 5 v Q a pocket embraced by the heating same, a vertically movable bar adapted to engage the valve, and an ejector depending from the bar and adapted to engage the mold, substantially as specified.

20. In a machine of the character described, a divided mold, means for imparting intermittent movement to the mold-sections in" op osite directions, and means for adjusting-t e periods of rest intervening between 113 periods of motion, substantially as specie 1 21. In a machine of the character described, a series of molds, a series of endless conveyer bands beneath the molds, and a corrugated guide having grooves within which-the bands are movable, substantially as specified. a

22. In a machine of the character described, amold, a hopper, means for conveying candles from the mold to the hopper, and a plunger movable over the bottom of the hopper, substantially as specified. i

23. In a machine of the character described, a mold, a hopper, means for conveying candles from the mold to the hopper, a plunger traversing the hopper, and a cutter alined with the plunger, substantially as specified.

24.' In a machine of the character de scribed, a mold, a hopper, means for conveying' candles from the mold to the hopper, a plunger traversing the hopper, a cutter alined with the plunger, and a presser-foot operatively connected to the cutter, substantially as specified. 4 I I 25. In a machine of the character described, a tank, a divided mold, meansfor establishing communication between the tank and mold, means for moving the moldsections alternately in .oplpiosite directions,

and an ejector movable wit stantially as specified.

Signed by me at New tan,) N. ,Y., this 1st day of May, 1907. a

.- CONRAD 'NORDFORS'L} n'the mold, sub- Witnesses-2 WILLIAM SoHULz, FRANK v. BRIESEN.

Yorkcity, (Manhat- 

